Life — March 22, 1900 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Animals the Only Heroes Left for Fiction. TTCHE present popularity of fiction in I which animals aro the heroes—" Tho Sand-Hill Stag, »b, Son “Diomed,” “Jungle Books,” et tho curious inference that, in an age of realism, tho only ideal characters aro found among the brutes, It is bad form in litera ture toexpend auy sentiment or enthusiasm on a more man or we evolution of eenturies—but you mi real tears over the fato of a de a mongoose! of Battle,” — suggests: an—the im, fev y shed a dece or At any rate, idealism is in no danger of perishing from our literature so long as the lower animal kingdom is not invaded by the critical spirit. Angels were the first to go; then man, then woman; but s0 far the beasts of the fleld remain to us with all their virtues undimmed, But poor man is sliding down hill rapidly—in fiction! . . . TIE period for “ estimates” and “ ap- preciations ” and “ monographs" on “Robert Louis Stevenson” has only just begun, and Mr. L. Cope Corpford’s book, bearing that magic namo, is no doubt tho fore-runner of a long line of similar efforts, For a decade they will bear the unmistakable stamp of contemporary ap- preciation—a strong element in which will bo that composite but deflnite portrait of Stevenson created by tho newspapers and tho literary gossip of his time. The ro- mance of his life on an Island bas fascinated thousands who never read ono of bis books, What tho boys who are now in primary schools will have to say about him when they begin to write will be of more valuo as an Index of what is always sonorously called “his permanent place in literature.” But they are welcomo to the “ aloofness" of their critical judgment; wo had the man, and ho was a varied and entertaining spec- taclo—a bitof real romance that mado the world more interesting. Mr, Cornford wisely gives the merest sketch of Stevenson's life, leaving that task in detail to bis oMlecial biographer, What ho attempts is “a study of his Mnished achievement, and of bis personality and temperament as expressed in that achieve- mont.” Ho looks at him critically but appreciatively as the moralist, tho artist, tho romantic, tho novelist and the limner of landscape. On all of these phases, Mr, Cornford expounds what might be called tho orthodox view of Stevenson—in fact, the view which Stevenson himself incul- catod in tho frank disclosures of his essays ‘LIFE * and letters. That was always the most in- teresting thing for Stevenson in tho pur- suit of letters —to talk about the reasons why ho did a thing in a certain way. Ho is always the “conscious artist” after tho thing is dono, but one suspects that he was often entirely spontancous whilo doing it; ho knew enough not to look at the roots till the flower had bloome A certain amount of perfectly honest “make beli like the let us play we aro »” of a child, must be dis- counted in estimating Stevenson from bis 8 utterances about himself. In two or threo instances, however, Mr. Coruford runs violently counter to Steven- son's own idea of his work—notably in estimating “Will of the Mill" as “his highest achievement in literature.” The author himself 1s on record as believing that bis best talent and achioveient lay in tho region of tho grotesque and terrible, Will o° the Mil” and tho flight of Sera- phina aro no doubt the most beautiful things written by Stevenson—but they are a flute solo and not bis full orchestra, so-und- WORD of hearty commendation should A be given the very sensible book on “Healthy Exercise” (Harpers), by Robert Il, Greene, M.D, It is eminently sane and practical in all its suggestions. Moreover, it makes of healthy oxerciso a reasonablo undertaking for a busy man, Most books on the subject make it an arduous profes- sion, which if followed according to the rules, would prohibit any other pursuit. Droch. New Publications. The Priest's Marriage. Vy Nora Vynne. New York and London: G. P. Patnam's Sons. A conversational book, written Ina light vein and hinging on the uncertainty of a Catholte Pelest wih regard to celitacy. It tx distinctly hot (he hovel of the year, or any one of them. Glimpses Across the Sea. By Sam T Cloner. Evanston: Windiknowe Publishing Company. As newspaper sketches, originally published tn the Chicago /ost, these © gilupsex” were good enough, but they are hardly worth republishing: between covers, Jo Ka; Tales from Japan. nosnké. New York: Company, Monopolies and. Trusts. Ph.D. Ll. De pany. The firat book of “The Citizens’ Library of Economies, Politics and Soctology," and written, e editor, — Professd has done & good » hi book being written in a scientific spirit, and at the same the with due regard to 1s popular side, Geter. By Kate A, Benton, Frederick A. Stokes Company. A romantic, historical novel, In which the scene Is laid in Baghdad, tn the reign of Harun al Raschid. ‘The author seems to have spared no pains tn obtaining materta! for local color, and she has displayed literary skill of # high order ta writing her story, It fs much better than the average novel, Ry Adachi Kin- Doubleday and McClure By Richard T. Fly, New York: The Macmillan Com- New York : The Anglo-Boer Conflict. By Alleyne Iretand. Boston : Small, Maynard and Company, This {4 @ little book, and can be read through hour or so. ‘The author's object wax 'to Je 4 brief and ac unt of the to the war, and tis plished. Litters of Thomas Gray. Selected by Henry Milnor Rideout. Boston: Stall, Maynard and Company. This Ix a handy Httle volume, and contains a nct_and very readable biographical atro- hy the editor. If one be w lover of he a true poe tera are not the tug those of Billy Baxter's Lettera, By Win, 3. Kountz, Jr. Harmarville, Pa,: Duquesne Distributing Com. pany. The Transvaal Outbot, lly Alert Stickney. ork: Dodd, Mead and Company, Mr, Stickney In his sympathtes and convictions 1s xtrongly, almost passlonately, pro-loer. Itt hook, which {s au aguregation of articles lately published in one of the magazites, ta devoted to strating that the Boer eats is both Just rong. Ills book 14 & powerful summary of he dimecuity, Injustice and tnexpediency of the Job which Great Britain has undertaken, ROM two speeches of the Hon. John F. Sbafroth, of Colorado, in the House of Representatives, we take a few sentences, which seem to be reason- ably near'the truth : England has no more right to interfere with the Internal affairs of that Nepublic, thin we have to Lnterfere with the Internal affairs of England, Can anyone now doubt that the act of the great Bricsh Government, in forettly attempting to. annex the littie Trenavaal State was one of the moat dale Instances of greed and capacity, of tyranny and usurpation, ever known In the history of tr world? If, {a Inst, It Was a nattonal crime to matntain & forelbie annexation of the country, why 1s It not a national crime now? ‘These are the facta relative to the claim of Great Britain, that she has a right to interfere In the Internal affairsof the South African Repubiic, That clalm 4 now made tn defiance of the solemn treaty stipulations of that Empire, of the Interpretations placed upon those treaties by The Fly : WHAT AN ELEGANT PLOOR FOR ROLLEI SKATES!